It's subtitled but 8 minutes have been cut. The music and sound effects have also been changed.
Here is a link to my reviews of the Hong Kong Legends version and Mega Star version of the DVD. http://www.loveandbullets.com/
Matt
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Honk Kong DVD Reviews and Newsloveandbullets.com

dub ala Drunken Master II/Legend of the Drunken Master
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Okay, we now have one vote for Dub and one vote for Sub...
Anyone know for sure?
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I went to the test screening and it was in Cantonese. I have heard from several people who have gone to recent press screenings who said it was in Cantonese.
I believe the offical site, http://www.iron-monkey.com/ makes mention somewhere that it is subtitled.
Matt
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Honk Kong DVD Reviews and Newsloveandbullets.com

Matt is correct, my information was wrong, sorry.
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I actually surprised that they are using subtitles. I guess the success of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon made a difference.
I didn't believe it until people told me who saw the press screenings. I know they change stuff after test screenings so I didn't take it for granted that there would be subtitles.
Matt
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Honk Kong DVD Reviews and Newsloveandbullets.com[Edited last by Matthew Brown on October 03, 2001 at 03:14 PM]

They go to all the problem to do it properly by subtitling it, then they change the music and sound effects and cut out 8 minutes.....
sigh...
I guess it's too much to hope that the domestic DVD will have the Hong Kong Legends track on it is there?
Looks like I'm going for that version

It won't bet he same without the Wong Fei Hung theme when he is beating up the bad guys. At that moment it really hits you on the head that this is the kid who becomes the character that Jet Li portrays in ONCE UPON A TIME IN CHINA.
Matt
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Honk Kong DVD Reviews and Newsloveandbullets.com

I think the DVD's may look speeded up a bit extra because the HKL is PAL and the Mega Star DVD may have come from a PAL source. They both have the same running time on the DVD's, 86 min.
Matt
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Honk Kong DVD Reviews and Newsloveandbullets.com

The film is pretty silly, but fun. Losing the very effective music score is a real shame. I, for one, will not support Disney and their continued editing of foreign films.
I have the Hong Kong Legends DVD and it is outstanding. Wonderful 16x9 with tons of extras.
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Direct stolen quote from the interview with Yuen Wo Ping (the director) from www.Iron-Monkey.com

IRON MONKEY imagines the story of the young Wong Fei Hung, a kung fu master who would eventually grow up to become a legend in real life and in the history of Hong Kong cinema. The film uses a mixture of the traditional kung fu style known as Hung Gar and choreography I created to highlight the incredible martial arts skills of the cast.
When Miramax approached me with the idea of releasing IRON MONKEY, I saw it as an opportunity to present the film to a wider audience and to restore the sub-titled version to the level of visual and sound quality as it was originally intended for the motion picture screen.
The Miramax release of IRON MONKEY will give American audiences the chance to see this film in a newly restored print, with English sub-titles that better convey the sense of the original dialogue and music that expresses the many moods of the film.
I worked closely with Miramax during the restoration process, and I think fans will find that the few changes to the original are all for the better -- Some fight scenes have been tightened up just a bit, and only serve to make the story move with more precision and intensity.
I am very proud of this film, and hope all audiences will enjoy it -- whether they are watching it for the first time or choosing to experience it again on the big screen.
--Yuen Wo Ping

So it appears to be definitely Subbed and music redubbed. Also some minor cuts made to fight scenes and who knows what else. :/ This was done under the direct supervision of the director so take it as you will. Director's cut to America I guess. I'm glad I have my Media Asia DVD regardless. It may find a nice companion piece from Buena Vista, but judging by their previous track record with some of my favorite HK films, I chose not to hold my breath.
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i remember watching this for the first time. my buddy had rented the video. i was simply blown away! this is one of the best of the genre and the one i always recommend to my friends. i guess i'd be willing to check it out in the theater...if nothing else it'll be on the big-screen...which will be kinda cool!
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The scene were Ms. Orchid is singing to the young Wong Fei Hung is cut out as far as I know.
I would believe this to be the Director's Cut if it wasn't screened in front of test audiences.
I wish they put a disclaimer that says "edited for American audiences". I think my only fear is that the Hong Kong Legends and Mega Star versions will be out of print when the DVD from Miramax comes out and it will be impossible to get the unaltered version. Luckily I have both the MS and HKL versions.
Matt
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Honk Kong DVD Reviews and Newsloveandbullets.com

Exactly why I went ahead and got my DVD from Megastar (poor poor me with my Region 1 and 0 capabilities only...) I thought the speech was very PR kiss ass as well. Kind of sad considering at Dragon*Con I asked the Miramax PR reps that were there with Iron Monkey posters if it was dubbed or subbed or cut or if the Music was changed I was given an oh so helpful "Oh, we aren't sure, we have heard both dubbed and subbed and I think they did change the music but we wouldn't cut anything out. I know that." I thought of pointing out about Drunken Master 2, but just got my lil' posters and left. Rather sad actually. I hope that they didn't think that that would help stir up interest from someone who actually liked films... Aaaah, what are you going to do. The Megastar looks pretty darn good on my 27" (since I can't afford any better, most of my money goes into software...) and it's better than the VHS incarnations I have been privvy to. I'll still see it in the theaters, as I did (Legend of the)Drunken Master (2) but I'm not looking for a jaw dropping experience. Other than from the film itself that is. I really want to see how the changed music will affect the film...
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Hey guys, I have a question, the version that I own on DVD is the Tai Seng/Media Asia version. Is there three different companies putting out Iron Monkey or is Tai Seng/Media Asia also known as Hong Kong Legends or Mega Star.
The version that I have, I assume is the original version, I've never known Tai-Seng/Media Asia to put out an edited version of any Hong Kong film.
If the Tai-Seng/Media Asia version is different from Mega Star and Hong Kong Legends could some one tell me what Im missing on my DVD version.

Corey -
The Tai Seng version is the same as the Mega Star version. They are the American Distributors for several Hong Kong movies so the only difference is their sticker on the cover.
Matt
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Honk Kong DVD Reviews and Newsloveandbullets.com